People from Burnley Leisure and Culture, Pendleside Hospice and local residents will walk from sunrise to sunset on one of the year’s longest days to raise awareness of programmes in the borough.

It’s the third year Burnley Leisure and Culture has staged its Summer Solstice Challenge to raise money for mental health and money for community support, with both previous events raising £1,500.

This year’s challenge will again take place at Barden Athletics Track, and the walkers will begin their trek at sunrise, 4.39am, and are due to finish 17 hours later at 9.41pm on Wednesday, June 19.

This year’s event is also being opened up to walkers raising money for Pendleside Hospice, in support of the vital mental health services it offers for the borough.

Event organiser Andrea Pollard, Burnley Leisure and Culture's events and partnership manager, said: “Pendleside Hospice is one of our charity partners and they have a huge following throughout the borough.

"We are delighted to be partnering up with them this year to help them raise vital funds for the superb support they give to so many people in the town.

“For our part, we have a team of four from BLC and some residents joining us to raise money for our community initiatives that support people to be happier and healthier through physical activity.

“As well as raising money, we’re raising awareness of things like our health walks, the Big Burnley Walk we hold every year, Beat the Street, active football, walking netball and rounders – all activities that get people being active and enjoying the great outdoors that come under our Walking Back to Happiness programme.”

The four Burnley Leisure and Culture walkers are Natalie Stephenson, deputy hospitality manager, fitness instructor Ryan McBreen, Karl Robb from Padiham Leisure Centre, and Mia Laffy from the Mechanics Theatre.

They’ll be joined by Burnley Leisure and Culture supporter Sarah Angelone, a teacher at St John’s RC Primary School whose children attend the swim academy at St Peter’s, and Leah Hooper, Pendleside’s community engagement officer.

Anyone wanting to support Burnley Leisure and Culture or Pendleside Hospice is welcome to join in the event, which will feature live music sets from local artists, special appearances from superheroes and Disney characters and a DJ set from 6pm until 9pm.

Burnley Leisure and Culture is also using the day to publicise the work of Burnley-based Six Connections, one of the beneficiaries of last year’s Solstice Change.

‘For mates. Powered By Mates’ is the belief behind the charitable organisation, which aims to make tough conversations about mental health struggles a little bit easier.

Andrea Pollard: “We will be signposting businesses to the brilliant workshops that Six Connections do, so they can recruit businesses to find out more about their work.”